Traditional family model: what is it, characteristics and variants

Do you want to start a family? Do you want to get married and have children? How is your family? These are questions that we can ask ourselves today, but a few years ago we asked ourselves these approaches were not so normal, since it was understood as something necessary to form a family in a very concrete.

Before, the only possibility of a family model was the traditional one, the only one that was considered ideal and correct, this being the most common, and consisting of a heterosexual marriage and children.

But at present, given the changes that society has presented, the possibility has arisen that other forms of couples can have children and thus form a family.

Next we will see what is understood by traditional family, as well as the different types that can give rise to it. We will also cite the most important social changes that have occurred to date and how they have allowed the development and formation of new family models, with more variety and more adapted to the evolution of the society.

• Related article: "Family therapy: types and forms of application"

What is the traditional family model?

In Western society, from the 19th century to the end of the 20th century, the 80s, the predominant family model that was most frequently presented was the traditional or classical. This model was characterized by presenting a structure constituted by a heterosexual couple of man and woman and with children, and possibly linked, with more or less relationship, with the extended family, referring to parents of different generations such as grandparents and uncles.

Apart from the particular structure, another of the defining characteristics is that the man and the woman had to be married by the church, and each member of the couple had a role and very well defined functions. The father, the man, was the head of the family, the one who decided most of the important issues, as well as the one in charge of bringing the sustenance home, the money. On her side, the mother, the woman, did not work outside the home but rather she assumed the domestic tasks and was responsible for the care and raising of the children.

Therefore, couples were formed during their youth and soon they were married, to move in together and thus start the joint family project. As a general rule, the marriage was unbreakable, there was no possibility of divorce and thus the couple always had to stay together. In the event of not achieving the ultimate goal, which was to marry, in the case of women, they could play the role of caregiver for their parents.

Other features to highlight of the classic family is the constitution of the couple that, added to the heretosexuality of this, that is to say, the fact that it was a man and a woman who formed it, also had than being monogamous. So, there is an affective-sexual relationship based on an ideal of sexual exclusivity.

In the same way, the marriage must have offspring. Children were had at an early age, usually in their early twenties. The number of children used to be between 4 and 5, forming relatively large family nuclei of 6 to 8 members.

Types of traditional family model

The traditional family may present small variations in structure, thus receiving different names.

The model family, in the first place, is formed by a heterosexual couple and two children of their own; A typical family is made up of a heterosexual couple and the children of one of the members or adapted children if there is no possibility of having them; and the functional family, also known as the extended family, is made up of the heterosexual couple, their children, and the couple's parents, siblings, and cousins.

• You may be interested in: "5 examples of gender roles (and their effects on society)"

Changes in society

In the current century, the 21st century, there have been a series of changes in lifestyle that have changes in the traditional family model, ceasing to be the only way to possible family.

Western society has evolved and with it so has the family. The most notable changes that have occurred at the social level are the following: women have ceased to have the sole function of being caregivers, and are currently able to work outside the home. They are thus more integrated into the world of work. Furthermore, the nuclear family, understood as the one formed by father, mother and children, has ceased to be the dominant model; there is a possibility of divorce; and new family models have appeared.

Similarly, the process of globalization, increased communication between countries has increased the possibility of forming intercultural couples.

On the other hand also there has been a change in the conception of female sexualityBeing able to feel much more free, being able to enjoy it and not having the sole purpose of getting pregnant. Women also develop a more “masculinized” role, if we understand by masculine the characteristics that the society tends to link with man: to be more independent and with more decision-making power and to support the family.

Regarding having offspring, this is no longer presented as the only option, since there are contraceptive methods that can prevent pregnancy if it is not desired. In the same way, other ways of having children have appeared, biological conception ceasing to be the only possibility, being able to adopt or use artificial fertilization techniques.

The concept and formation of the couple is no longer as strict as it was before, now other types of relationships are possible such as the union between two individuals of the same sex, couple monosexual, open relationships or polyamory, giving more relationship options and ceasing to be the only relationship monogam.

Previously we have indicated that the couple was formed by a marriage, this means that, normally they had to be married. This tradition has also changed, since today Catholic customs have lost strength, not seeing as necessary to get married in order to start a family, go live together or have sons.

Finally, we also find it necessary to mention the change that has occurred in the rhythm of life. The formation of a new family, moving in together, getting married, having children ... As a general rule, it is done later, when the person has finished training and has achieved financial stability. In this way, starting a family is no longer the only goal in life.

• Related article: "What is social psychology?"

New family models

As we have already mentioned, the evolution and variations in society have also produced variations in family models, appearing and being possible other types of structures and relationships between the members. This new range of possibilities has given rise to different family models.

Single parent family model

The need for the role of father to be carried out by a couple is no longer essential, it being possible that only one individual acts as a father or mother. This results in what we know as a single parent family. Therefore, the family would be made up of a mother or father and a child or several children who live together and cohabit.

In this way we can find families with only one parent who has been divorced, who has become a widower, who has decided to stay single and adopt, have children through artificial fertilization or have become pregnant and have wanted to continue but without the need for a couple.

• You may be interested in: "What is the importance of physical contact in childhood?"

Homosexual family model

The new, more open vision of couples and relationships that society currently has has allowed families to form with homosexual couples; that is, the parents are two individuals of the same sex. In some countries there is the possibility that a gay couple can legalize their union and thus have the possibility of adopting a boy or a girl.

In order to be fathers or mothers, homosexual couples can start an adoption process; use surrogacy or surrogacy, a legal process in some countries, or if the couple is female, practice artificial insemination. In the same way, a homoparental family will also be understood as that constituted by a gay couple and the children of one of them from a previous relationship.

In this way, today we can observe multiple and very different family structures. The possibility of creating a family and having children is no longer exclusive to the traditional model constituted by a heterosexual marriage., who share a house and have children in common.

Now we can consider as a family homosexual couples and their children, single parents, divorced or widowers who act alone as caregivers, couples who live apart and have children in common... among many other options that have opened the vision, allowing the family structure, the way of understanding the family, to be adapts to what one wants or how each subject wants to live, and this is not the one that must conform to the family model predetermined.